2 Chronicles 9:1–12

Read the passage.

Solomon’s fame spread to neighboring countries and beyond. The queen of Sheba made a state visit, bringing an appropriately large retinue in caravan. Unfortunately, we don’t know exactly where Sheba was, because there are conflicting reports in history. Some scholars think Sheba (or Seba as it is sometimes called) is related to the Sabeans of the southern coast of Arabia. Others place it across the sea in the horn of Africa, as there is a medieval Ethiopian source that claims that land to be Sheba. Wherever she came from, the queen had heard fantastic tales about Solomon, and came to see for herself whether they were true.

Her response is that they didn’t tell her the half of it. She had heard he was fabulously wealthy and great in wisdom, but his God-given wisdom surpassed everything she had heard previously. Furthermore, she could tell that he employed his wisdom for the good of his people. It is said one can know a man’s true character by how he treats those who serve him, and she observes that not only are Solomon’s wives happy, but his servants are too. Solomon didn’t become rich by oppressing his people and extracting wealth from them. Instead, they benefitted from his wise rule, and had it better than we would otherwise expect for their position.

The queen of Sheba displays her own wisdom by attributing Solomon’s success to Yahweh, the God of Israel. She realizes that he did not reach his current position on his own strength, and did not cultivate his own wisdom all by himself. Instead, it is the Lord who has blessed Israel through Solomon’s wisdom and benevolent reign.

We long for Your perfect reign that will last forever, as we compare and contrast our good and bad human rulers You have appointed over us for a time.